Ford should freeze rent increases, help people struggling during the pandemic

QUEEN’S PARK — Jessica Bell, Ontario NDP critic for Tenant Rights, released the following statement on the Ford government’s quiet decision to let landlord raise rents again in 2022 by setting the rent increase guideline at 1.2 per cent:

“Letting landlords raise rents before tenants have recovered from the pandemic is the wrong move. Ontario should be freezing its rent increase guideline at zero again in 2022 and providing rent subsidies to tenants who are still struggling from income and job losses caused by the pandemic. Let’s help tenants catch up on rent and stay housed, not kick the chair out from under them before they’ve had a chance to recover.”